Cottontail Rabbits in Rhode Island - Rhode Island Department of ...

Cottontail Rabbits in Rhode Island - Rhode Island Department of

CottontailRabbitsinRhodeIsland Description: There are two types of rabbits that inhabit RhodeIsland, the Eastern (Sylvilagus floridanus) and New England (Sylvilagus transitionalis) cottontail rabbits. The Eastern cottontail is an introduced species whereas the New England cottontail is a native species. The Eastern cottontail was first introduced into RhodeIsland during the early 1900s to supplement the declining New England cottontail populations. Cottontails have longs ears, large hind feet, and short, fluffy tails. The coloration of the coat can range from reddish-brown to black to grayish-brown while the undersides are white. Eastern and New England cottontails look almost identical except for a slight variation in their coat colors. About half the population of Eastern cottontails possess a small white spot on their foreheads whereas the New England cottontails have a small black spot on their foreheads. Eastern and New England cottontails have slightly different body weights as well. The Eastern cottontail weighs on average 2-4 pounds and has a total body length ranging from 15-18 inches. The New England cottontail weighs 1.5-3 pounds on average and has a total body length ranging from 14- 19 inches. The males are called bucks and the females are called does. Rabbits are considered lagomorphs not rodents. Lagomorphs are an order of small mammals that include pikas, rabbits, and hares. The main difference between the two is that lagomorphs have two pairs of upper incisors whereas rodents only have one pair. Another difference is that all lagomorphs are strictly herbivores (eat only vegetation) unlike rodents who are omnivores (eat both vegetation and meat). Cottontail rabbits have distinguishable tracks. They leave behind a 3 ½ x 1 ¾ inch long hind foot tracks, which can be seen in front of the smaller, 1 x 1 inch, front foot tracks. The feet are typically six inches apart and spaces between sets of tracks are a few feet apart. RhodeIsland is not only a host to cottontails but to the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) as well. Snowshoe hares however, are not nearly as common as the two cottontail breeds. Hares and rabbits are very similar but they have distinguishable differences. One of the main differences is that snowshoe hares have larger back feet than cottontail rabbits, due to their larger hind feet they are able to sprint across slippery surfaces. Another difference is the coloration of their coats. Snowshoe hares change the color of their coats twice a year, during the summer they possess brown fur and during the winter their coat color changes to white, which helps them blend into their surroundings. Snowshoe hares also differ from rabbits in their habitat requirements. Snowshoes prefer living in northern climates, where there is near-constant snow cover during the winter, whereas cottontails prefer more temperate zones with less snow cover. Another key